Protective shipping and storage container



July 25, 1967 F. DE GEORGE 3,332,546

PROTECTIVE SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINER Filed June 24, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l //Vl /VTOP FRANK DE GEORGE A TTOIPIVE'X July 25, 1967 I F. DE GEORGE 3,332,546

PROTECTIVE SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINER Filed June 24, 1965 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M/l/E/VTOP. FRANK DE. GEORGE July 25, 1967 F. DE GEORGE PROTECTIVE SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINER Filed June 24, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet #IVEWTOR. FRANK DE. Gzomz A TTOR/VEY.

July 25, 1967 F. DE GEORGE 3,332,546

PROTECTIVE SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINER Filed June 24, 1965 4 Sheeks-Sheet 4 Mil i/V701 .FRANK DE GEQRGE ,4 TTORA/fl United States Patent 3,332,546 PROTECTIVE SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINER Frank De George, Mount Holly, N..I., assignor to Franklin Container Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., :1 corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 24, 1965, Ser. No. 466,696 7 Claims. (Cl. 206-52) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination shipping and storage container for hollow rolls of sheet material in the form of an open-topped box structure having roll cradling means disposed interiorly of the box structure adjacent each of two opposite -walls thereof and hinged flap portions in said walls which normally overlie the opposite ends of the cradled rolls and are foldable out of the planes of the walls of which they are respectively formed to expose the hollow centers of the rolls for receiving devices for lifting the rolls out of the box structure.

This invention relates generally to shipping and storage containers and more particularly to an improved construction of shipping container designed for the reception and storage of rolls of sheet material such as plastic film, paper, cloth and the like.

Rolls of sheet material are particularly susceptible to damage during shipment, storage and handling thereof if extreme care is not taken to prevent the edges of the roll from striking a hard object or surface, as when such roll is being transported or stored away for subsequent use. Such damage is especially costly in the case of such relatively expensive material as plastic film, since even a small dent in the edge of such a roll may render unusable a substantial length of the rolled-up material which, of necessity, has to be unrolled and put aside for salvage of the undamaged portion thereof.

Such rolls of plastic film and the like are of considerable bulk and quite heavy and since they are normally stored standing on end, even a slight tilt as might be necessary for lifting the same for transport to the machine wherein the film is to 'be used may result in costly damage to the edge of the roll-up stock.

Further, because of the bulk and weight of such rolls, their placement in and removal from conventional shipping containers has always proved to be quite difficult, so much so that in many instances the rolls are shipped without protective containers for the same, thereby subjecting them to increased likelihood of damage during transport of the same.

Having in mind the foregoing, it is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a container for a plurality of such rolls of plastic film or other sheet material which serves not only to protect the rolls against damage during shipment thereof but also as a depository for safely storing the rolls against all likelihood of damage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container which is of such design and construction as to facilitate ready and easy placement of the rolls of stock in and removal thereof from the container without risk of damaging the same and which container additionally serves to fully and completely protect the rolls against damage during transport and storage thereof.

Still another object is to provide a container designed for the purposes aforesaid which is simple and inexpensive to construct, which is strong and durable in use and which is fabricated throughout of corrugated paper board.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as described in detail in the following specification, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view showing in perspective the several component parts of the container constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, this figure showing also in perspective three rolls of stock such as might be stored in the container; 7

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the slit and scored blank which forms the top closure for the container;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the slit and scored blank which forms the body of the container in which the rolledup material is received;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of one of the four identical scored and cut-out blanks forming the supports which serve to protectively support and secure the rolls of stock in the container;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of one of said supports for the rolls as seen from line 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the completed container mounting three rolls of stock therein, the top closure of the container being shown partly broken away;

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container as taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 6,

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal sectional view as taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view as taken along-the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a view showing in vertically separated relation the several components of the assembly shown in FIGURES 6 to 9, the container body and top being shown each in transverse section and the access panels of the container body being shown scoring outwardly and downwardly to facilitate insertion of a lifting rod (not shown) through the tubular core of the roll;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the container body showing the access panels swung out and down as in FIGURE 10 and showing also a lifting rod inserted through one of the rolls disposed in the container body;

FIGURE 12 is a view as taken along the line 1212 of FIGURE 11 showing the container body with a lifting rod extending through one roll and showing also, in phantom, said roll lifted vertically out of the container; and

FIGURE 13 is a view taken along the line 13-43 of FIGURE 12.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURE 1, it will be observed that the shipping and storage container of the present invention essentially consists of an open-topped box-like unit 10, an open-bottomed top or closure unit 11 which fits over and encloses the box 10 and a plurality of separately formed cradle-like spacer elements 12 which are adapted for disposition in paired re lation within the 'box 10 at opposite sides thereof to receive and removably support within the box in spaced, axially parallel relation a plurality of rolls 13- of sheet material, such as plastic film, paper of the like.

All of the separate elements of the container, namely, the box 10, the top 11 and the roll-supporting spacer elements 12, are each formed of suitably cut, slitted and scored blanks of double-faced corrugated paper board which, as conventionally fabricated, consists of a corrugated core of paper sandwiched and glued between a pair of outer liners of paper.

The box top 11 may be of any conventional construction, the same being formed, for example, of the blank 14 shown in FIGURE 2 which is scored and slit to provide a central topwall-forming panel marginally bounded by a pair of opposed sidewall-forming panels 16-16 bendable along the score lines 17-17 and a pair of opposed endwall-forming panels 18-18, bendable along the score lines 19-19, each of the latter panels being provided at the opposite ends thereof with corner flaps 20-20, each of which latter is bendable relatively to its associated endwall panel 18 about a score line 21 and separated from the associated sidewall panel 18 by a slit 22. As shown in FIGURE 1, the box top 11 is formed and set to shape by bending the sidewall and endwall panels at right angles to the central topwall panel, while at the same time the flaps 20 are inwardly bent normal to the plane of their associated endwall panel to overlie the inner surfaces of the sidewall panels, said flaps being secured to the sidewalls by staples 23 as shown or adhesively to otherwise to provide the rigid box top 11 having opposite side and endwalls and a topwall.

The box unit 10 is formed of the blank 24 shown in FIGURE 3, which blank is provided with a central bottom wall forming panel 25' marginally bounded by a pair of opposed sidewall-forming panels 26-26 respectively bendable along the score lines 27-27 and a pair of op posed endwall-forming panels 28-28 respectively bendable along the score lines 29-29. As in the case of the box top blank 14, the box blank 24 is also provided with corner flaps 30-30 which are each separated from its proximate endwall panel 28 by a slit 31 and bendable relatively to its associated sidewall panel 26 about a fold line 32. Thus, when the several panels of the box blank 24 are relatively bent along their respective fold lines, as shown in FIGURE 1, the corner flaps 30-30 overlie the outer surfaces of the proximate endwall panels 28-28 and may be secured thereto by the staples 33 or otherwise to provide a rigid open-topped box structure, such as that designated 10 having opposite side and end walls and a bottom wall.

It will be noted, however, that the corner flaps 30-30 of the "box blank are preferably foldable against the outer surfaces of the endwall panels instead of against the inner surfaces of the sidewall panels as in the case of the top closure blank, and thus the relative arrangement of the associated slit and score lines which define the corner flaps 30-30 in the top closure blank 14 is shown reversed from that of the box blank 24.

While it is preferred that the corner flaps 30 of the box structure 10 be foldable against the end panels 28-28 as shown in FIGURE 1, in the case of the top closure unit 14 its blank may be designed to permit folding of the corner flaps 20 either against the side panels 16-16 as shown in FIGURE 1 or against the end panels 18-18, as may be desired.

The blank 24 for the box unit 10 essentially differs from that for the top closure 11 in that each of the side wall panels 26-26 is longitudinally scored medially thereof, as along the score line 34, and is further provided with a pair of parallel slits 35-35 extending outwardly from the score lines 34, thereby providing the latter with a hinged flap portion 36 adapted to be turned outwardly and downwardly with respect to the side wall of the box structure, as is most clearly shown in FIGURES 10 to 13. When the box structure 10 is formed and set up as shown in FIGURE 1, the hinged flap portions 36-36 are normally respectively disposed coplanar with and constitute par-ts of the sidewalls of the box. It will of course be appreciated that the top closure 11 is sized to snugly fit over and completely encase the box structure 10.

Adapted to be disposed interiorally of the box structure 10 in flatwise engagement with each opposite side wall 26 thereof are the hereinbefore mentioned cradlelike spacer elements 12-12. Each of these spacer elements is formed of the blank 37 shown in FIGURE 4, which blank is centrally provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 38 and along each of its opposite edges with an equal number of semi-circular notches 39 longitudinally spaced in correspondence with the spacing of the apertures 33. The blank 37 is scored to provide longitudinally extending parallel bend lines 40-40 each disposed between the central line of perforations 38 and an outer line of the notches 39, and in addition, is centrally scored longitudinally thereof to provide a pair of closely spaced bend lines 41-41. It will be noted that in the blank as formed each of the apertures is transversely aligned with a pair of the semi-circular notches 39 respectively formed in opposite edges of the blank so that when the blank is folded upon itself about the bend lines 40 and 41-41, as best shown in FIGURE 5, there is provided a cradle-like unit of four-ply construction having formed along one of its edges a plurality of semi-circular seats, such as are designated 42 in FIGURE 1, each of which seats is of a size and shape adapted to snugly accommodate the normally projecting end 43 of the cylindrical core 44 of a roll of sheet material to be contained in the box.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the central apertures 38 of the blank 37 are each somewhat elongated transversely of the blank so that when the latter is folded to form the fourply construction of FIGURE 5, the two semi-circular portions of each aperture register with each other and with the transversely aligned edge notches 39 to conjointly provide the semi-circular seat 42. Each cradle element is provided with any number of such seats as may be desired, three of them being shown in the construction illustrated for cradling three of the rolls 13 in the container.

It will be noted that the cradle-like members 12-12 are arranged in paired relation within the box along each of the opposite longitudinally extending side walls thereof with the notched edges of said member presenting toward one another so that they conjointly form circular seats which completely embrace the projecting ends of the rolls mounted in the box to hold the same in pre-determined fixed parallel relation. It will be apparent that when the rolls of sheet material are so cradled between the oppositely disposed paired spacer members 12-12 and the top closure member is fitted over the box containing the cradled rolls, the latter will be held securely in position against any shifting movement thereof relatively to each other and to the box structure. Also, it will be noted in this connection that the cradle members 12-12 are each of a length such that they fit snugly between opposite ends of the box and so are not longitudinally shiftable therein, and further that the overall depth of the paired members 12-12 is substantially equal to the depth of the box so that when the top closure member is fitted over the box the paired cradle members are held against vertical displacement relatively to one another.

Still further, it should be noted that the thickness of the folded four-ply members 12-12' is such that when mounted in position within the box 10 the widthwise spacing between the opposite sets of the paired cradle members is approximately equal to the width of the sheet material of the roll 13 so that axial shifting of the rolls cradled within the box is effectually precluded.

FIGURES 6 to 9 show the container of the present construction with three of the rolls mounted therein, it being noted that with the rolls mounted in place and held in position by the oppositely disposed paired cradle members 12-12, the hinged flap portions 36-36 of the box side Walls extend upright in coplanar relation with respect to the said side walls, in which position of these flap portions they are each confined between a cradle member 12 on the inside of the box and a side Wall 16 of the top closure for the box.

FIGURES 10 to 13 show the condition of the container and the relative disposition of its components when it is desired either to load the container with rolls of sheet material or to remove any one or more of such rolls from the container. As has been indicated hereinbefore, the rolls of sheet material are normally provided with a central tubular supporting core having oppositely projecting end portions 43 as shown in the drawings. In order to load the container it is merely necessary to remove the top closure 11 from the bottom box structure together with the two oppositely disposed uppermost cradle members 12, as shown in FIGURE 10, and then turn downwardly the hinged fiap portions 36-36 of the opposite side walls of the box, also as shown in FIGURE 10. The roll 13 of sheet material, supported by a lifting bar 45 (see FIGURES 11 and 12), may then be deposited in the open-topped box with the oppositely projecting ends 43 of the core of the roll respectively seated in the semicircular seats 42 of the oppositely disposed cradle members 1212 positioned in the bottom of the box as shown in FIGURES 10 and 12. The bore of the core extending through the roll of material is of a diameter such that the lifting bar 45 clears the hinging lines of the outwardly and downwardly turned flap portions lid-36, which condition continues to prevail even when the roll is finally seated in position within the container. Thus, when the hinged flap portions 3636 are turned down as in FIGURE 10, each of the rolls 13, supported by its lifting bar 45, may be cradled in the container or removed therefrom without damage either to the roll or to the container itself.

When it is desired to secure the rolls in the container for transport, the several rolls are placed in the container as just described, after which the upper set of cradle members 1212 are respectively seated in position in coplanar registry with the lower set of cradle members so as to completely embrace therebetween the central cores of the rolls, following which the hinged flap portions 36-36 are turned upwardly, whereupon the lid closure may be fitted over the container and secured in any suitable manner to complete the enclosure for the rolls.

The construction described may be modified as by extending the flap hinge lines 3434 across the full width of the walls 2626, to thereby provide flap portions which are coextensive in length with said wall. Also, said flap portions 3636 may be other than of rectangular shape as shown. Thus, by suitably changing the angular relation between the hinge line 34 and the slits 35-35, the flap portions may be made trapezoidal or other form and shape as may be desired.

Also, the cradle members 12 may be made of more or less plies than the four shown. For example, for a triplefolded construction of such cradle member, one of the panel sections disposed outwardly of the fold lines 40-40 of the blank 37 may be omitted, in which case the next adjoining panel would be free of any notches 39 along its edge and whenfolded about the fold lines 41-41, would constitute the middle ply of triple-folded unit having seats, such as those designated 42 in FIGURE 1, along one edge thereof. For a five-ply construction, the blank would include one end panel having the notches 39 in its longitudinal edge and two connected panels each having a row of apertures 38 and score lines, such as 4141, extending therethrough, all of which panels are relatively foldable flatwise against one another.

It will be apparent that the container of the present invention serves ideally to store the rolls in horizontally disposed spaced relation for subsequent use. When it is desired to remove a roll from storage for use, it becomes only necessary to remove the top closure of the container and the upper set of cradle members and then turn down the hinged flap portions 36 of the opposite side walls, whereupon a lifting bar may be inserted through the bore of a roll for its ready removal from the container in which it is stored.

It will be understood of course that the invention is susceptible of various other changes and modifications which may be made from time to time without departing from the general principles or real spirit of the invention, and it is intended accordingly to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a combination shipping and storage container for rolls of sheet material each having a central tubular supporting core with freely projecting opposite end portions, an open-topped box structure having a bottom and oppositely disposed vertically extending side and end walls, roll cradling means disposed interiorly of the box structure adjacent each of two opposite walls thereof for supporting each roll of material between said opposite walls with its axis extending transversely thereof, and hinged flap portions respectively formed in said two opposite walls and adapted to be turned out of the planes of said walls about hinge lines respectively spaced below the top edges of said opposite walls to provide a passage extending transversely through the box structure for insertion of a lifting bar across said cradling means and axially through the roll supported thereby.

2. A shipping and storage container for rolls of sheet materials as defined in claim 1 wherein said cradling means consists of a pair of spacer members disposed respectively flatwise against the inner surfaces of said two opposite walls of the box structure to constitute rests for the oppositely projecting ends of the roll supporting core, the hinge lines of said flap portions being substantially coincident with the horizontal diametric plane of the roll supported by and extending between said spacer members whereby, when said flap portions are turned outwardly and downwardly from their respective associated walls of the box structure, the bore of the roll core is exposed to permit the insertion therethrough of a roll lifting bar.

3. In a combination shipping and storage container as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said flap portions is defined by a hinge line spaced inwardly of and paralleling the outer free edge of the wall of which it forms a part and by a pair of slits respectively extending outwardly from said hinge line and disposed in spaced relation inwardly from opposite ends of said wall.

4. In a shipping and storage container as defined in claim 1 wherein said roll cradling members are each formed of a single blank of corrugated paper board scored and folded along spaced parallel lines to provide a multiply construction of cradling member of uniform depth and thickness, said blank being provided :along one of said fold lines and along at least one free edge thereof paralleling said fold lines with transversely alined cut-outs which are disposed in registry when the blank is folded to provide along said one free edge thereof at least one of said seat-forming notches.

5. In a combination shipping and storage container for rolls of sheet material each having a central supporting core with oppositely projecting free end portions, an opentopped box structure having a bottom wall and vertically extending side and end walls, one pair of opposite walls of said box structure being each provided with a hinged flap portion extending along at least a major portion of the length of the wall, said flap portions being bendable outwardly and downwardly out of the plane of its :associated wall, each of said flap portions being defined by a hinge line spaced inwardly of and paralleling the outer free edge of the wall of which it forms a part and by a pair of slits respectively extending outwardly of said hinge line and disposed in spaced relation inward-1y from oppo site ends of said wall, and a pair of roll cradling members disposed interiorly of the box structure flatwise against each of said walls having said hinged flap portion, said cradling members being disposed in paired coplanar relation with their respective adjoining edges in substantial abutment and being each provided in their said abutting edges with registering notches which conjointly constitute seats for the projecting free end portions of the rolls cradled in said box structure.

6. A shipping and storage container for rolls of sheet material as defined in claim 5 comprising, in combination with said box structure a top closure structure having a top and vertically extending side and end walls, said top 7 closure structure being adapted to be telescopically fitted ponents thereof are respectively formed of corrugated over said box structure to hold said paired roll cradling paper board. members in position against vertical displacement with said hinged flap portions in coplanar relation with the Refeiefices Cited box structure Walls of which they'are respectively asso- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS ciated, said flap portions being each held in said coplanar relation between one set of said paired cradling member 10/1905 Budd 206 65 and a Wall of said top closure structure.

7. A combination shipping and storage container as defined in claim 6 wherein all of the separable com- THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

10 MARTHA L. RICE, Examiner. 

1. IN A COMBINATION SHIPPING AND STORAGE CONTAINER FOR ROLLS OF SHEET MATERIAL EACH HAVING A CENTRAL TUBULAR SUPPORTING CORE WITH FREELY PROJECTING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS, AN OPEN-TOPPED BOX STRUCTURE HAVING A BOTTOM AND OPPOSITELY DISPOSED VERTICALLY EXTENDING SIDE AND END WALLS, ROLL CRADLING MEANS DISPOSED INTERIORLY OF THE BOX STRUCTURE ADJACENT EACH OF TWO OPPOSITE WALLS THEREOF FOR SUPPORTING EACH ROLL OF MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID OPPOSITE WALLS WITH ITS AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THEREOF, AND HINGED FLAP PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY FORMED IN SAID TWO OPPOSITE WALLS AND ADAPTED TO BE TURNED OUT OF THE PLANES OF SAID WALLS ABOUT HINGE LINES RESPECTIVELY SPACED BELOW THE TOP EDGES OF SAID OPPOSITE WALLS TO PROVIDE A PASSAGE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THROUGH THE BOX STRUCTURE FOR INSERTION OF A LIFTING BAR ACROSS SAID CRADLING MEANS AND AXIALLY THROUGH THE ROLL SUPPORTED THEREBY. 